Pentagon Investigation Reveals Secretary of Defense's Risky Use of Signal for Military Communications

Several internal sources within the United States Department of Defense, commonly known as the Pentagon, have reported to various newspapers the outcome of an internal investigation regarding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's use of the messaging service Signal for official activities. According to the report by the department's inspector general, Hegseth endangered U.S. troops by sharing sensitive information on Signal, creating a risk of interception. This issue first arose last March, when, due to an error, the director of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to a restricted chat on Signal. This chat included some of the highest-ranking government officials who were coordinating a military attack planned for March 15 against Houthi positions in Yemen. Subsequently, in April, the New York Times reported that Hegseth had shared detailed information regarding the same military operation in another Signal chat. While Signal is indeed encrypted, it is not authorized for communications that involve the sharing of classified information, particularly concerning military operations. The ongoing investigation has raised serious concerns about potential vulnerabilities exposed by Hegseth’s actions. The inspector general's report, which is set to be made public today, further states that Secretary Hegseth declined to participate in an interview for the investigation. Instead, he opted to provide a brief written statement, leaving many questions unanswered regarding his decision-making processes and understanding of secure communications protocols. As this story continues to unfold, it could have significant implications for Hegseth's position and the broader trust placed in military leadership regarding secure information sharing. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2